Monday Morning Briefing and Newspaper Review

Venezuela Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa has fled to the US to protest over President Nicolás Maduro’s second term in office.

More than 200 MPs from different political parties have signed a letter to Theresa May, urging her to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

German trade union Verdi is calling on security staff at Berlin’s Schoenefeld and Tegel airports to go on strike for up to four hours on Monday, action that will likely cause delays.

The Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and the fact-based comedy Green Book won major film awards at the 76th annual Golden Globes in a night that also saw a strong showing for British talent.

The News Papers Review:

The Times says that the Planning Authority is expected to reject an application to develop a disused farm close to the Victoria Lines into a farmhouse with basement. This is the third time an application is being submitted to develop the ODZ site.

The Malta Independent quotes Pope Francis who used his time during the Angelus on Sunday to appeal for European countries to take in the 49 migrants stranded off the coast of Malta on board rescue ships. Germany and the Netherlands have signalled they would be willing to enter a migrant-sharing deal while Italy insisted it would keep its ports closed.

The Times asks Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar whether the case of 17 Black is being actively investigated. In reply, the Commissioner said that the police investigate all reported cases but that it would not be possible inform the public of every step.

The Malta Independent speaks to UNHCR official Fabrizio Ellul who highlights the increase in migrants coming to Malta in 2018 as the biggest change in 2018 in migratory dynamics. Ellul said that the route was stopped in 2015 and 2016.

L-Orizzont covers the Prime Minister’s address at a political event on Sunday who said that Malta cannot welcome people whom other refuse, referring to the 49 migrants currently off the coast of Malta.

In-Nazzjon also reports on the Prime Minister’s reactions to the migrants issue, saying that allowing them to disembark would set a precedent. The paper also quotes the Italian Interiors Minister who said that the country will not allow those who do not have for its laws.

L-Orizzont says that Malta has the second-largest police force in the EU per inhabitant, with 505 officers for every 100,000 residents. Cyprus is the country with most officers per inhabitants.

In-Nazzjon quotes Adrian Delia who said that the government is ready to transfer public land on the cheap for speculation, while there are people who cannot afford a roof over their heads. The PN Leader criticised the concession sought in the Corinthia Group project in ST George’s Bay.